http://omnibus.au.dk/
Thu, 05 Sep 2019 13:26:56 +0200enTYPO3 - get.content.righthttp://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss1871GUIDE: Danish food: Delicious pork and mouthwatering cakes – but what is up with all that licorice?http://omnibus.au.dk/en/archive/show/artikel/guide-danish-food-delicious-pork-and-mouthwatering-cakes-but-what-is-up-with-all-that-licorice/
You’d have to be a fool (or a vegetarian) not to enjoy a Danish pork roast – juicy on the inside, crispy on the outside. But the licorice thing (Why do they put it in cakes???) is harder for foreigners to stomach. And make sure you take Google Translate with you when you do your grocery shopping.You’d have to be a fool (or a vegetarian) not to enjoy a Danish pork roast – juicy on the inside, crispy on the outside. But the licorice thing (Why do they put it in cakes???) is harder for foreigners to stomach. And make sure you take Google Translate with you when you do your grocery shopping.

New in Denmark – and at AU?

In this guide, four international students who have all been studying at AU for at least one semester share the top tips they wish they’d known when they arrived.

Studied at AU in 2017 for a semester in connection with her BSc in economics in 2017. Returned in August 2018 to take her MSc in economics at AU.

Kyriaki Karvela, 26 years old, from Greece

Started at AU in February 2017, where she’s taking her MSc in technology-based business development in Herning.

Martin Varga, 23 years old, from Hungary

Has lived in Denmark for almost three years, took an AP degree at EUC in Aalborg and has studied at AU since August 2018, where he is studying business administration (BSc).

Has been living in Denmark for almost three years. Began his studies in Denmark on an AP degree programme at UCN in Aalborg and switched to Aarhus University in August 2018, where he is now studying economics and business administration (BSc).

Ruxandra Ariana Danaila, 22 years old, from Romania

Has lived in Denmark for almost three years, and is studying business administration (BSc).

What is your honest opinion about the Danish food culture?

Xiaobo: “I like Danish food. And I like that it is easy to get fresh fruit and salad in the cafeteria. We don’t eat raw broccoli and carrots in China, but I like it.”

Kyriaki: “So much meat and so much fish! Great pastries and bread! I try everything and I like almost everything. However, I do think Danes put onion and bacon on too many things. Another problem: the cheese you sell as feta – it is NOT feta! But I managed to find really great Greek feta.”

Martin: “It is not anything special. I don’t think I can mention one traditional Danish dish.”

Ariana: “I really like it.”

Finish this sentence: Don’t leave Denmark without tasting…

Xiaobo: “I really like traditional Danish Christmas food such as flæskesteg (pork roast), æbleskiver (round pancakes) and risalamande (rice pudding). But I would say don’t leave Denmark without tasting krebinetter (breaded meatballs). They are SO good!”

Kyriaki: “The pastries! I also really like smørrebrød (open-faced sandwiches) with salmon, frikadeller (meatballs) and tarteletter (puff pastry with chicken and asparagus filling). Oh, and the milk is great.”

Martin: “The crispy Danish pork roast.”

Ariana: “Tarteletter and pork roast!”

Pork roast served the traditional Danish way with potatoes, red cabbage and gravy. Photo: Colourbox

Have you had the experience of buying something completely different from what you wanted in the supermarket?

Xiaobo: “I wanted to buy yoghurt and picked up some of this ‘skyr’. It was almost solid when I opened it. It looked like paint or something. But I thought: How bad can it be? After all I found it in the cooler section of the supermarket. I tried it and it was fine. One of the points to come to a new country is to experience a different food culture.”

Kyriaki: “I wanted yoghurt but picked up some really weird milk. It was like milk turning into yoghurt, really weird consistency, I didn’t try it. It can be difficult to shop in the supermarket because everything is in Danish – but you just have to explore.”

Martin: “I once bought crème fraiche instead of yoghurt.”

Ariana: “I wanted condensed milk but got piskefløde (dairy cream) instead. There’s also so many varieties of flour, so I went to get wheat flour, but ended up with rye flour. The problem is that the packaging often writes the content in all the Scandinavian languages but rarely in English. Google Translate is your friend when you go grocery shopping!”

Apparently yoghurt can be hard to find in the supermarket. Photo: Colourbox

Anything to avoid?

Xiaobo: “I still can’t take the taste of liquorice and rye bread.”

Kyriaki: “No, try everything! I hate liquorice but you have to try it.”

Martin: “Liquorice! Never ever am I trying that again!”

Ariana: “I hate liquorice! And it is really big in Denmark, it is everywhere in gums, cakes, whatever. But that being said, I don’t think there’s anything else to avoid. There’s always a lot to choose from and also a nice variety of healthy food and organic food.”

Translated by Lenore Messick

]]>mga@au.dkTue, 03 Sep 2019 14:34:00 +020001870GUIDE: Campus life: Accessible professors and nude raceshttp://omnibus.au.dk/en/archive/show/artikel/guide-campus-life-accessible-professors-and-nude-races/
Campus life at AU is informal – you’re on a first-name basis with your professors, and you can even run naked through the University Park. To get the most out of your time here, make sure you participate in the intro week, show up early for the Regatta, and sample the cinnamon buns from the cafeteria.Campus life at AU is informal – you’re on a first-name basis with your professors, and you can even run naked through the University Park. To get the most out of your time here, make sure you participate in the intro week, show up early for the Regatta, and sample the cinnamon buns from the cafeteria.

New in Denmark – and at AU?

In this guide, four international students who have all been studying at AU for at least one semester share the top tips they wish they’d known when they arrived.

Studied at AU in 2017 for a semester in connection with her BSc in economics in 2017. Returned in August 2018 to take her MSc in economics at AU.

Kyriaki Karvela, 26 years old, from Greece

Started at AU in February 2017, where she’s taking her MSc in technology-based business development in Herning.

Martin Varga, 23 years old, from Hungary

Has lived in Denmark for almost three years, took an AP degree at EUC in Aalborg and has studied at AU since August 2018, where he is studying business administration (BSc).

Has been living in Denmark for almost three years. Began his studies in Denmark on an AP degree programme at UCN in Aalborg and switched to Aarhus University in August 2018, where he is now studying economics and business administration (BSc).

Ruxandra Ariana Danaila, 22 years old, from Romania

Has lived in Denmark for almost three years, and is studying business administration (BSc).

How is the academic environment at AU different from what you are used to in your home country?

Xiaobo: “It is totally different from China. In China, students live on campus; here students live all over the city. In China we have quizzes all of the time, the professors check the attendance, we have to turn in assignments more often and we have a test every second week. Your grade is based on all these elements. In Denmark your grade is based on your final exam and your professor won’t force you to hand in an assignment. You basically are your own boss when it comes to studying. Another thing, in China students are often not brave enough to point out if they disagree with the professor. I Denmark professors are openminded and happy to get to know a students’ perspective.”

Kyriaki: “It’s totally different! In Greece my professors didn’t seemed to be interested in the students. Especially not compared to Danish professors. Here, you almost have a collaboration with the professors and they respect you. My supervisor helped me 10 hours a day in the lab like it was his own project! Also, the exams are different. In Greece we have no oral exams, so they were really challenging for me in the beginning, but my professors helped me a lot. They are really more like tutors than teachers.”

Martin: “The academic environment is a lot less formal than in Hungary. For instance, it is OK to have a bar on campus and the way you communicate with your lecturers is really different too. I was shocked that I could call them by their first name. When I talk to my friends in Hungary, they tell me stories about how their professors do not even look at their papers when grading them sometimes. Here it seems to be a fair system and the facilities and computers are up to date too.”

Ariana: “It is like what you see in the movies! It’s very academic and there are so many events and things to do. The students are disciplined and the facilities and study places are so well put together – it’s a perfect academic environment.”

Where do you go to study?

Xiaobo: “To the library: there’s a nice study environment, and it is easy to get materials. You can also book a study room, which can be really nice if you want to prepare for an oral exam.”

Kyriaki: “I prefer to go to the library in Viby where I live or to DOKK1. Otherwise the cafeteria is nice too.”

Martin: “I study at home, at the library at Aarhus BSS (Fuglesangs Allé) or at The Royal Library – they have everything, a nice cafeteria and even table football!”

Ariana: “I can’t sleep, eat and study in the same room, so I often go to the Royal Library, which is an amazing place to study, or I go to the Aarhus BSS Library at Fuglesangs Allé. The Nobel Park has nice places to study too.”

Where do you go for lunch?

Xiaobo: “To the cafeteria at Aarhus BSS­ I love the salad bar. It is not that common in China to have salad bars.”

Kyriaki: “The cafeteria on campus. But I just can’t get used to eating lunch at 12 o’clock. In Greece we eat lunch at 2 or 3 PM and dinner at 8 PM.”

Martin: “I care about what I eat, so I usually bring my own lunch. But the food in the cafeteria is good.”

Ariana: “I like the food in the cafeteria; it is fresh and there is a nice variety of food.”

Where do you go for coffee?

Xiaobo: “To the cafeteria.”

Kyriaki: “I bring it with me from home or go to the cafeteria – they have great cinnamon rolls to go along with the coffee.”

Martin: “I don’t drink coffee…”

Ariana: “Either from the cafeteria at Fuglesangs Allé or from a vending machine.”

Have you made any mistakes you’re willing to let us in on?

Xiaobo: “No, not really.

Kyriaki: “The first day in Denmark, I took the wrong train. In Greece transportation never leaves on schedule, so when the train arrived on time, I just could not believe it and decided to wait for the next train. The train was headed to Esbjerg but I was going to the campus in Herning.”

Martin: “When I moved to Aarhus, I took the first accommodation available, which was a dorm at Skjoldhøj Kollegiet in Brabrand. It wasn’t very nice and quite far away from the city. Shortly after, I could have had another place closer to campus if I had waited a little longer.”

Ariana: “One study-related mistake I made was the way I took notes in the beginning. Our lecturers advised us to work smarter not harder, but I didn’t know what that meant, and I wrote everything by hand. But I noticed how my class mates were careful about how they organized their notes in order to use them for the exams. So now I take notes on my computer and make sure to focus on what I need for my exams.”

What is your best advice when it comes to campus life at AU?

Xiaobo: “You need to know what you want to achieve – what is your goal. And then don’t get lost while having fun. Remember why you are here, because it is easy to get distracted when you study abroad. And then be open, be brave and ready to try new things.”

Kyriaki: “The busses and trains leave on time. Not sooner. Not later. That’s good to know if you want to make it to class ontime.”

Martin: “Go to the Friday bars and network – it will open doors for you, and you will make new friends.”

Ariana: “Campus life is really about being all over the place and showing up at all the parties, dinners and events from the beginning of the semester. This gives you a great feeling of belonging and it's hard to establish later on.”

Complete this sentence: When studying at Aarhus University, don’t miss…:

Xiaobo: “ …Kapsejladsen*! It is one of the biggest student events, so you have to check that out. We went really early in the morning, at 4 AM. Some of our classmates went there even earlier. I have never seen so many people on the same spot here in Aarhus. The event is pretty exciting with the boat race and the nude run – which for me is a bit odd, but seems supernormal in Denmark.”

Kyriaki: “…the Danish pastries, the cinnamon rolls in particular, and also the layer cake. And take a walk in Aarhus city and allow yourself to get lost and explore the city.”

Martin: “… out on the intro week. It is great fun and a chance to meet your classmates in an informal and relaxed setting.”

Ariana: “…out on the intro week! It’s extremely important. And you don’t want to miss events like Kapsejladsen and the Student Fair either. The Student Fair is a nice place to visit if you want a job while you study in Aarhus. Also, the Student House is worth a visit.”

*Kapsejladsen: The annual Regatta, a beer relay race on homemade boats that takes place on a lake (pond, actually) in the University Park. Basically a huge (30,000 students participate) garden party involving a nude footrace and a lot of other festivities in addition to the ‘boat’ race.

The nude race 2018. Photo: Lars Kruse

Translated by Lenore Messick

]]>mga@au.dkTue, 03 Sep 2019 13:05:00 +020001860GUIDE: Meeting Denmark and the Danes: Good at English – and hard to get to know?http://omnibus.au.dk/en/archive/show/artikel/guide-meeting-denmark-and-the-danes-good-at-english-and-hard-to-get-to-know/
Denmark’s well-organized society and free education are attractive. But it’s hard to crack the code of the language, the weather is chilly – and so are the Danes, at least on the surface. Pro tip from international students: Make the first move, and get a few beers into your Danish classmates – and watch them thaw up. Denmark’s well-organized society and free education are attractive. But it’s hard to crack the code of the language, the weather is chilly – and so are the Danes, at least on the surface. Pro tip from international students: Make the first move, and get a few beers into your Danish classmates – and watch them thaw up.

New in Denmark – and at AU?

In this guide, four international students who have all been studying at AU for at least one semester share the top tips they wish they’d known when they arrived.

Studied at AU in 2017 for a semester in connection with her BSc in economics in 2017. Returned in August 2018 to take her MSc in economics at AU.

Kyriaki Karvela, 26 years old, from Greece

Started at AU in February 2017, where she’s taking her MSc in technology-based business development in Herning.

Martin Varga, 23 years old, from Hungary

Has lived in Denmark for almost three years, took an AP degree at EUC in Aalborg and has studied at AU since August 2018, where he is studying business administration (BSc).

Has been living in Denmark for almost three years. Began his studies in Denmark on an AP degree programme at UCN in Aalborg and switched to Aarhus University in August 2018, where he is now studying economics and business administration (BSc).

Ruxandra Ariana Danaila, 22 years old, from Romania

Has lived in Denmark for almost three years, and is studying business administration (BSc).

Why did you chose to come to Denmark to study?

Xiaobo: ”There is an exchange programme between Aarhus University and my home university, Xiamen University. I didn’t know much about Denmark when I first got here. But now I like the pace of life, the environment and the people here. That’s why I chose to come back for my Master’s degree. And from my parents’ point of view, it means fewer worries, since it was safe for me as a girl to go to Denmark.”

Kyriaki: ”I knew I wanted to study abroad for my Master’s. I did some research, and with some help from a friend in Denmark, I narrowed it down to AU. It ended up being my only choice – and I got in. AU’s ranking and the fact that the education is free in Denmark also played a big role.”

Martin: “I wanted to study abroad; I’ve had enough of the Hungarian educational system, which is all about memorizing, not learning stuff. In Denmark you actually apply what you learn. I also knew I wanted to study in English. The free education is a big plus as well – the weather on the other hand is not.”

Ariana: ”I have a few acquaintances here and I like Denmark in general. I’m drawn to how organized and precise Denmark is; I feel like I belong here. And of course, it’s a plus that education is free.”

What has been the biggest challenge moving to Denmark?

Xiaobo: ”The different culture and the language. Luckily most Danes are fluent in English. But many signs are in Danish, and in the supermarket everything is in Danish, so it can be a challenge to find what you need. I once went to Bilka to get detergent, but was confused whether it was in fact detergent or toilet cleaner. I had to ask an old lady who helped me, although her English was not too good.”

Kyriaki: “The weather, haha! No, I would say being alone and away from home is the biggest challenge. You need to figure out how to settle in a new country. You are out of your comfort zone and it can be a bit awkward, and I have had days where I just wanted to go back to Greece. But it gets better day by day. I’m not feeling at home yet, but now I’m really happy to be here.”

Martin: “Figuring out general and practical things like how to pay bills, how to select an energy provider and how to find good accommodation before you arrive. Plus, knowing nothing about which areas to go after and what prices are reasonable can be challenging too.”

Ariana: ”Finding a student job. I haven't had a job before and had no idea even how to get started. It was also quite a challenge to get the hang of all the legal aspects a job implies. Not speaking Danish made it a lot harder to find a job, because employers seem to prioritise applicants who speak Danish. It took me almost 5 months to find a reliable job –unfortunately not a job which relates to my studies, though."

If you could give justy one good piece of advice to yourfellow international students who have just arrived in Denmark and at Aarhus University – what would that be?

Xiaobo: ”Be brave. Don’t be afraid of trying new things. You will gain memories for the rest of your life.”

Kyriaki: “First, choose wisely, especially if you apply for your Master’s. You have to be sure that you select the right direction. Second, be brave. You are far away from home and it is challenging in the beginning, and you will want to go back home. But it gets better.”

Martin: “Learn the language from day one if you want to stay long term and want to find a good job. And buy a raincoat and a bike as soon as you get here. Biking is the best way to get around town.”

Ariana: ”Show up to every possible event to network and mingle. I didn’t do that because I was a bit shy, but you get so many benefits from networking. And it is all about making the most of everything while you are here.”

Is it easy to make Danish friends?

Xiaobo: ”It was hard in the beginning. Danes are cold – or not cold – but shy. But they are nice and friendly when you get to know them. And if you ask for a favor, they love to help you. It is much easier to make friends with Danes when they are drunk; then they are more open. Most of my friends in Denmark are my classmates and fellow international students. It is easier to become friends with other internationals, because we don’t speak Danish and we are experiencing a totally different new life here.”

Kyriaki: “No it is not! I find it very difficult to get Danish friends. It seems to me that Danes prefer to be with their Danish friends. It is much easier to make friends with other international students.”

Martin: “Yes, Danes are quite open-minded to internationals. But it is easier to get international friends because you are in the same environment and share the same experiences.”

Ariana: ”Yes, I would say it is easy if you know how to approach the Danes. You must not be too much or too pushy; you need to create a bond. And it makes it easier after the Danes have had two or three beers.”

Ariana: “You have to make the move; it is mostly up to you to make the connection.”

What has surprised you the most about Danish culture?

Xiaobo: ”Now I’m used to it, but I was surprised that drinking is such a big thing in Danish culture. Kids don’t drink a lot in China. However, it is pretty hyggeligt to get a beer or two after the exams.”

Kyriaki: “All Danes speak great English. and I was also surprised how organized everything is – transportation, cities and shops; I really like it. And I like the cities and the landscape – it seriously looks like something from a Disney fairytale. It’s like living in an old country but at the same time in the future with the high levels of organisation.”

Martin: “Almost all Danes speak very good English. My first week here, I got lost and asked a 70+ year-old lady for help and she spoke English at such a high level. Also, Danes are very chill and laid back; they don’t stress and don’t take anything too seriously – sometimes this can be frustrating too though, when you’re doing group work and I feel like we should get some work done.”

Ariana: ”Danes like to keep their personal space as if they were surrounded by a bubble. Romanians are all over the place, and we are loud people. Also, I was surprised by the level of trust Danes show other people. Danes take your word for it and see the best in people.”

What is good to know about the Danes and Danish culture as a newly arrived international student?

Xiaobo: “Danes are really kindhearted, but you have to make the first move.”

Kyriaki: “Danes are really helpful, but you need to ask for help. And another thing: Danes don’t like noise. For instance, if you go out as a group at a café, people don’t like that you draw attention to yourself by making a lot of noise. Everything is so quiet here- people are so calm, and I like that. A last thing: Prepare for the weather: bring your warmest jacket and buy a bike.”

Martin: “Like I said before, all Danes are quite good at English, even older people. It is good to know this so you don’t shy away from asking people for help.”

Ariana: “Remember that the Danes like to keep a distance. It’s not that they are not interested in you, they just like some personal space. But once you know a person well, it is much easier.”

Hygge: Usually translated ‘cosiness’. Conveys a sense of the warmth and well-being you feel when you’re with other people whose company you enjoy in an informal but pleasant and well-organized social setting. Coffee and cake with your best friend or your family can be hyggelig, but so can a party with lots of drinks and dancing. Hygge also has an aesthetic dimension, because Danes are very preoccupied with how interior design affects people’s mood. (Which make sense, considering how much time they are forced to spend indoors by the weather and the long dark winter.) It’s very important for homes, cafés, restaurants and shops to be ‘hyggelige’.

Øl: Beer

Skål: Cheers

Xiaobo: “I used to take Danish classes two times a week at Lær Dansk, but I don’t anymore. It is pretty hard for me to learn; I think it is much easier for my German friends. Especially the pronunciation is very hard for me, and Danes speak really fast and cut off the endings of the words, so it sounds different in real life from what I learned at the language classes.”

Kyriaki: “Not yet, but I want to. I think it is a big chance to learn a new language.”

Martin: “I did for a few months.”

Ariana: “I used to study Danish twice a week for about a year. But really there is no better way to learn the language than just talking. And when you live in a dorm it is easy to pick up a lot from just listening to other people talking. So now I mostly teach myself the language by talking and listening to Danish.”

Kyriaki: “Danes speak so good English you actually don’t have to learn Danish.”

Martin: “Hygge! The word that best describes the Danish mentality.”

Ariana: “’Øl’, ‘skål’ and ‘tak’.”

Translated by Lenore Messick

]]>mga@au.dkMon, 26 Aug 2019 14:20:00 +020001837Is the restroom busy? Just ask Darth Vader and Luke Skywalkerhttp://omnibus.au.dk/en/archive/show/artikel/er-toilettet-ledigt-darth-vader-og-luke-skywalker-giver-dig-svaret/
In the Hopper Building, the lightsabers of Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker light up – in red and blue – when the restroom on the corridor is busy. This saves the computer scientists a lot of fruitless trips to locked restroom doors – and has quickly become the building’s main attraction.In the Hopper Building, the lightsabers of Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker light up – in red and blue – when the restroom on the corridor is busy. This saves the computer scientists a lot of fruitless trips to locked restroom doors – and has quickly become the building’s main attraction.

28 seconds. That’s how long it takes computer scientist Søren Brogaard Pedersen to stand up from his desk,walk down the hall on the second floor of the Hopper Building in Katrinebjerg, turn the corner and grasp the restroom door handle – only to discover that the restroom is busy. And an additional 28 seconds to make his way back to his office, bladder still unrelieved. This can add up to a not insignificant chunk of a working day spent on bootless journeys back and forth between your office and a locked restroom door. Compounded by the frustration that grows with each failed attempt.

The problem is obvious. The solution was not. Until February, when Søren Brogaard Pedersen and Mads Møller Jensen, both of whom work at the Interactive Spaces Lab at the Alexandra Institute, installed models of the the Star Wars characters Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker at the end of the hall.

Each figure is linked to one of the two restrooms on the hall: Darth Vader’s lightsaber glows red when his restroom is busy; likewise, Luke Skywalker’s glows blue. This means that the computer scientists with offices on the hall just have to poke their heads out of their offices to see if the restroom coast is clear.

The idea was hatched last December, Pedersen explains. His colleague Daniel Andersen came up with the additional twist of using Star Wars figures. A proposal which was received with enthusiasm by the rest of the lab, which brainstormed audio and lighting effects over lunch.

And once the parts they needed had arrived from China, it only took a couple of weeks to get the system up and running.

Both figures are connected to a circuit by wires attached to the walls leading to the restrooms. There are two battery holders in the hole in the doorframe where the restroom lock clicks in. When the metal lock shuts, they act as electrical conductors that power the lightsaber on the corresponding Star Wars figure.

Blinking Christmas trees and inflatable palm trees

But the idea isn’t really new – in fact, Mads invented what you might call a prototype five years back, when he was a PhD student sharing an office at AU with Tobias Sonne. And the two computer scientists were already frustrated over wasting time on unsuccessful trips to the restroom back then.

“So Tobias took action,” Mads remembers.

To make a long story short, the two PhD students erected two plastic Christmas trees at the end of the hall. One for each restroom. Both trees were connected to the restroom door locks. Green lights mean the restrooms were available; red, that they were busy.

Video: Tobias Sonne.

The Christmas tree restroom occupancy system blended in well with its Christmas ornament-festoned surroundings for the first month of its existence. But as December gave way to January, some of the older scientists began to feel that Christmas trees were no longer an appropriate decorating choice.

“So we tried out inflatable palm trees. But they kept going flat. We blew them up in the morning, and they were all limp by the afternoon. So that didn’t work out, and the evergreen Christmas trees came back,” Mads remembers.

The two Christmas trees still stand in the hall on the second floor of the Hopper Building, but they no longer twinkle now that the two inventors have moved on. Not a tenable situation, says Niels Olof Bouvin, an associate professor of computer science whose office is on the hall. “Let me put it like this: it’s serious enough that we are going to have to look at reimplementing the same functionality again,” he says.

Isitavailable.com

At the same time, Tobias refined the system even further in the noble pursuit of sparing his colleagues from encounters with locked restroom doors. First he launched the website ‘Erderledigt’ (Is it available), which was also connected to the Christmas trees. The website provided live status updates on the restroom situation.

“So you didn’t even have to stick your head out the door,” Mads explains enthusiastically.

The icing on the cake was an app for Mac PCs. It represented the restroom door status by two vertical bars in your task bar which were either green or red – so all you had to do was glance at the top of your computer monitor.

At the apex of the development of the Christmas tree system, it was possible for employees to keep track of each other’s ‘restroom routines’ on Tobias Sonne’s website. Including statistics about average daily and weekly restroom visit times. Photo: Capture from the website, which is currently offline.

Is Big Brother keeping tabs on my restroom behavior?

But not everyone was equally keen on this elegant solution.

“Some people were concerned that someone might be monitoring their restroom habits, and that there was a possibility of being reprimanded for spending too much time in the restroom,” Mads explains.

A concern that was founded in the fact that the Christmas trees, in addition to telling users when the restroom coast was clear, also kept track of the length and frequency of their restroom visits.

“At that time, I received a report on the previous day’s restroom visits every morning at 6 am, including minimum and maximum durations of the restroom visits,” Mads remembers.

But he stresses that all of the data collected by both the Christmas trees and the Star Wars figures is anonymized, and that it’s not possible to see data for the individual restroom patrons.

Mads Møller Jensen demonstrates the programme that allows him and Søren Brogaard Pedersen to see restroom data on a large monitor. The green or red horizontal bar you see shows whether the restrooms are busy at two-minute intervals. During the interview, one restroom switches from red to green, which means that the coast is clear at the restroom guarded by Darth Vader.

“The most vehement critics are happy with it now,” he says.

According to Mads, it’s hard to resign your self to wasting all that time again once you’ve had the luxury of a system like his. So he and Søren started missing their Christmas trees soon after they moved to the hall upstairs in December of last year.

Ready for a university-wide roll-out

And here the new system has not only become indispensable faster than the Millenium Falcon. It has also become the building’s main attraction.

“No one comes to visit us without stopping by to see it,” Mads says.

Nonetheless, they haven’t yet been contacted by potential customers interested in implementing the concept in their own workplace.

But in the event that someone out there discovers a burning need for a similar device, Søren promises that it would be easy to roll out at the rest of the university.

Restroom data in the cloud

Mads doesn’t wake up to a report on his colleagues’ restroom visits any more, now that the Christmas trees have been replaced by visitors from space. But the two Star Wars characters collect just as much data – which they, perhaps appropriately, store in the ‘cloud’.

This simple graph show how many visitors Darth Vader’s and Luke Skywalker’s restrooms have had in particular time periods on particular dates.

In principle, Mads and Søren could run stats on how often, how long and when the restrooms are used.

“And we have actually joked about collating the data with the cafeteria’s menu,” Mads laughs.

But they don’t do anything with the data the system collects, they assure me. The system is simply a creative solution to a practical problem.

“We use technology as a tool, just like a carpenter might build something out of wood if he were going to solve this problem,” Mads says.

However, he has analysed the data sufficiently to produce one finding: Darth Vader’s restroom is the most popular. Possible because it’s closest to the hall.

On the other hand, Luke Skywalker delivers the best quote as you’re leaving the restroom:

“That’s okay. I’m never going back to this planet again.”

Søren Brogaard Pedersen (left) and Mads Møller Jensen together with the two figures. The restrooms are just around the corner.

Translated by Lenore Messick

]]>miriam.brems@au.dkThu, 05 Sep 2019 13:21:00 +020001859A walk on the wild side in the University Parkhttp://omnibus.au.dk/en/archive/show/artikel/vildskaben-sniger-sig-ind-i-uniparken/
AU’s biologists have been pushing for more untamed nature into the University Park for a long time. And now a little strip of wildflowers is blooming away, to the delight of hoverflies and biology students alike. But AU needs to do even more, the biologists say.AU’s biologists have been pushing for more untamed nature into the University Park for a long time. And now a little strip of wildflowers is blooming away, to the delight of hoverflies and biology students alike. But AU needs to do even more, the biologists say.

Since 2017, Anders Sanchez Barfod, associate professor of ecoinformatics and biodiversity, has been fighting for permission to sow native plants outside the classroom where he teaches students plant identification at the Department of Bioscience.

Now he’s standing in front of a modest little bed full of wildflowers he sowed with a group of student volunteers and employees from the Department of Bioscience.

Wilderness areas require virtually no maintenance once they’re established. “It’s only necessary to mow these areas with a scythe once a year, so they don’t get taken over by nettles,” explains Associate Professor Anders Sanchez Barfod, who envisions a voluntary ‘mowing guild’ of students and employees handling that job. “It would create a sense of community and co-ownership – and then of course you just could pop open a beer afterwards.” Photo: Marie Groth Andersen

“We’ve been allocated a little piece of land near Ny Munkegade that – admittedly – isn’t that impressive. Because we didn’t get access to it until early summer, and we had to sow it during dry weather, which isn’t optimal. Next year we expect that it will look a lot more impressive,” says Barfod, who’s happy that a little piece of wild nature has finally been allowed to sprout on AU’s main Aarhus campus.

A (yellow) wall of opposition

“It’s been a long, tough haul,” he continues.

And he’s not referring to the digging and hoeing. The really tough part was convincing the management at AU’s Construction and Planning office that it was a good idea to plant native plants in the University Park.

Wild spots in the University Park

Ny Munkegade (look for the ‘Fuld Flor’ sign)

An area behind the Lakeside Lecture Theatres will also be allowed to grow wild starting in 2020

Also check out the Facebook group: Natur i Uniparken Aarhus. Nature enthusiasts (particularly from the Dept. of Bioscience) post photos of the animals and plants you can have the good luck to meet in the University Park. The heron is a frequent guest here. Sparrowhawks, redstarts and cardinal beetles also swing by.

Their opposition is at at least partially founded in the so-called testament drawn up by the architect C.F. Møller, the designer of AU’s iconic yellow brick buildings. A testament that dictates for posterity how Møller wanted the park and its buildings to look and to be maintained.

Here’s an example of the kinds of strictures Møller included in the testament:

“In addition to the bushes that protect sidewalks, banks and squares, the only plants present where these considerations are not relevant should be oak trees. Ornamental shrubs, flowers, beds, bulbs in the lawns and such like are not to be permitted, and the reeds around the banks of the lakes should be kept down.”

But as Barfod sees it, the idea that deviating from C.F. Møller’s plan for the park is out of the question is out of step with reality.

“Of course we should be able to deviate from an architect’s thinking from the 30s. If not, then we risk getting completely out of step with the development of society, which is moving in a completely different direction.”

Green wave

Over the past six months, the climate debate has put in wind in the sails of the AU biologist’s vision of a wilder unipark, and AU is now willing to cede a tiny corner of the manicured green lawn to the anarchy of nature. In addition to the bed near Ny Munkegade, the university is allowing a section of the bank of the stream behind the Lakeside Lecture Theatres to grow wild next year in the name of biodiversity.

Even though the small bed by Ny Munkegade doesn’t look impressive from a distance, it’s already home to a variety of different plants, including red clover, wild carrot, wild chamomile, feverfew and wild basil. And it attracts insects and butterflies, including the lovely common blue, the admiral and the common brimstone. Photo: Marie Groth Andersen

Peter Bachmann Vestergaard, head of building services, explains the change in attitude in the following way:

“We have an obligation to keep up with the times and social tendencies rather than remaining at a standstill. If we have areas that we can bring into play in a controlled way and to an extent that we don’t lose the historical foundation, then let’s talk about it.”

Room for lawns and wilderness

Although as a biologist, Barfod can’t get enough untamed nature in principle, his vision is not to allow all the grass in the University Park to grow wild. Less drastic measures will do.

“There are lots of places in the park outside the large lawn where you could easily establish beds of wildflowers. And I don’t mean traditional flowerbeds as such, of course, but areas where wild plants are allowed to reign. They attract insects and other kinds of animal life, as well as birds and hedgehogs.”

Bang! Biology student Sean Birk Bek Craig shows up in full fieldwork costume with a butterfly net under one arm. And he starts swatting away with the net, and catches a hoverfly, a dronefly and a grasshopper. Photo: Marie Groth Andersen

In step with the UN’s sustainable development goals

Barfod is glad that a space for dialog about increasing biodiversity in the park has opened up.

“As a university, we have a special obligation to lead the way in efforts to promote biodiversity. And this is also completely in step with the UN’s sustainable development goals."

Addicted to nature

And Barfod is also looking forward to using the wildflower area by Ny Munkegade when he teaches plant identification.

“Yes, we’re going to have free-range biology students now.”

And the biology students themselves are psyched about having a plot of wilderness to study – and not least enjoy.

All forms of life are welcome at AU’s wild spot by Ny Munkegade: insects, birds, hedgehogs – and students and employees. And yes, go ahead and plop down on a blanket, even though you might smash the wildflowers. “That just changes the competitive relationships between the species a little. And that’s just fine,” the biology students assure me. Photo: Marie Groth Andersen

“It’s cool that you can just go outside in your breaks and look at nature – and not just a lawn and oak trees. You’re surprised every time. Because every time what you see is different,” says Sofie Amund Kjeldgaard, a first-semester biology MSc student.

Sean Birk Bek Craig, who’s in the fifth semester of his BSc in biology, agrees:

“Yeah – after all, no one ever gets tired of seeing a common blue [butterfly, ed.]. And nature is restorative, and gives us perspective on the world. Once you’ve started looking at life, you get the habit, and you have to have more.”

Facts: Would you like to help encourage biodiversity?

If you’d like to do something to increase the biodiversity of your own garden, Associate Professor Anders Sanchez Barfod recommends one of two methods:

1) Dig up a section of your law and sow a meadow seed mix. The result will look great in the first year. The next year, som species might dominate at the expense of others.

2) Let your lawn grow wild. The result won’t be quite as spectacular the first year, but in subsequent years, natural succession in bloom times will ensure that the bed is beautiful all summer long.

In both scenarios, the bed should be mown with a scythe once a year.

Translated by Lenore Messick

Wild spots in the University Park

Ny Munkegade (look for the ‘Fuld Flor’ sign)

An area behind the Lakeside Lecture Theatres will also be allowed to grow wild starting in 2020

Also check out the Facebook group: Natur i Uniparken Aarhus. Nature enthusiasts (particularly from the Dept. of Bioscience) post photos of the animals and plants you can have the good luck to meet in the University Park. The heron is a frequent guest here. Sparrowhawks, redstarts and cardinal beetles also swing by.

]]>mga@au.dkThu, 29 Aug 2019 08:27:00 +020001858Insanely good – and an almost secret place to study http://omnibus.au.dk/en/archive/show/artikel/sindsygt-gode-og-lidt-hemmelige-studiepladser/
As a student, you might spend a lot of time wandering around campus looking for a nice, quiet spot to study. Here’s a tip: check out Museum Ovartaci on Katrinebjergvej.As a student, you might spend a lot of time wandering around campus looking for a nice, quiet spot to study. Here’s a tip: check out Museum Ovartaci on Katrinebjergvej.

Translation: Lenore Messick.

At the museum, you can explore Ovartaci’s visual universe and learn about the history of psychiatry in Denmark. And you can also find a quiet spot to get some reading done. Students are more than welcome here – in fact, the bright conservatory with its comfortable wicker furniture has WIFI just to make life easier for you.

The café is also student-friendly, with comfort food at reasonable prices (40-50 kroner).

As a student, you don’t need to buy a ticket to the museum if you’re just looking for a place to study close to campus. You can just go down a side staircase near the main entrance that leads directly to the reading room and the cafe.

Of course, you’re also encouraged to buy a ticket to the exhibit, which explores the development of psychiatric treatment of the mentally ill in Denmark from 1852 to the current day.

FAKTA

]]>lobi@au.dkWed, 28 Aug 2019 13:32:00 +020001857The Aarhus University Research Foundation invites everyone to a street partyhttp://omnibus.au.dk/en/archive/show/artikel/aus-forskningsfonds-75-aars-jubilaeum-du-er-inviteret-til-sygt-god-fest-paa-tidligere-hospitalsgrund/
Save the date: Saturday August 31st. AU’s research foundation invites you – and everyone else in town – to a huge street party on the grounds of the former municipal hospital on Nørrebrogade. The site that will be transformed in to a modern ‘university city’ by the foundation in coming years.Save the date: Saturday August 31st. AU’s research foundation invites you – and everyone else in town – to a huge street party on the grounds of the former municipal hospital on Nørrebrogade. The site that will be transformed in to a modern ‘university city’ by the foundation in coming years.

Translation: Lenore Messick.

The Aarhus University Research Foundation (AUFF) is throwing a party to end all street parties on the last Saturday of this month, when the foundation will be celebrating its 75th anniversary.

You’re invited

You’re invited to join in the festivities, which will include talks by AU researchers, and music by Hjalmer, Niklas Runge, Aksglæde and ESPICHICOQUE. You’ll also get what may be the last opportunity for a guided tour (45 minutes) of the tunnels under the former hospital at Nørrebrogade 44. You can also have a look at the old autopsy labs and let deputy state-appointed forensic pathologist Thiis Knudsen entertain you with grisly tidbits about what goes on in there...

Gourmet grilled sandwiches, fish and chips and shawarma

AUFF is also serving up a tempting spread at the party, including gourmet grilled sandwiches from Nabo Kiosk, fish and chips from Danyard, an umami burger from Spiselauget, pizza from Oles Gård and a special shawarma recipe from Kolo.

There will also be various bars at the venue where you can quench your thirst. And everything at prices even a student on SU can afford, AUFF promises. Even at the end of the month.

FAKTA

The Aarhus University Research Foundation anniversary street party

WHAT The Aarhus University Research Foundation anniversary street party

WHERE The grounds of the former hospital at Nørrebrogade 44, 8000 Aarhus C

WHEN Saturday August 31st from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM

REGISTRATION Please note that you need to register in advance for some of the events. You’ll find links to the different events on

]]>lobi@au.dkWed, 28 Aug 2019 11:54:00 +020001855Semester guide: Deadlines and events you don’t want to misshttp://omnibus.au.dk/en/archive/show/artikel/semester-guide-deadlines-and-events-you-dont-want-to-miss-3/
There are some deadlines you just don't want to miss. And there are events you’re really going to regret missing out on. There are also days where you suddenly bump into a parade of people dressed all in white or where all Danes apparently eat duck. Here is your guide to – and explanation of – important dates during the coming semester that you can already note in your calendar. You’re welcome.There are some deadlines you just don't want to miss. And there are events you’re really going to regret missing out on. There are also days where you suddenly bump into a parade of people dressed all in white or where all Danes apparently eat duck. Here is your guide to – and explanation of – important dates during the coming semester that you can already note in your calendar. You’re welcome.

August

August-September: AU Intro Days

Intro days are organised for all international students at the beginning of the semester. They focus on the social aspects of the degree programme, getting to know your fellow students, and making sure everyone gets a good start to student life at AU. Date, time and location varies from degree programme to degree programme. Find out more here.

The application system for applying for exchange from AU to one of the university's partner universities for spring 2020 opens. Deadline 15 September.

September

September: The autumn semester begins

The new students have finished the student orientation week, the old students are back from their holidays and teaching starts again. AU has a total of about 38,000 students and 8,000 employees, with students and staff divided between campus in Aarhus, Herning and Emdrup. The specific start dates vary for the various degree programmes.

2-4 September: Study Fair

Study Fair 2017. Photo: Melissa Bach Yildirim

Once a year for three days in September, the Main Hall at AU is converted into a veritable market. A multitude of companies, associations and organisations hand out free goodies and good offers ranging from insurance and bank accounts to dentist's appointments and bus tickets, while around 15,000 students wind their way past the many stands. For both new and old students, it is a good place to visit if you want to learn more about the many communities you can sign up for at AU, or just to get a free beer and enjoy the summer weather outside in the courtyard.

3 September: Students Organisation Fair

Student Organisation Fair is a bit like the study fair (see above), but smaller and directly targeted at international students. Here you can meet the different student associations at the campus, sports clubs, Aarhus cafés and companies, and hear about job and career opportunities at BSS Career and much more. Don't miss out on a great opportunity to learn more about the activities taking place both at the university and in the surrounding city. The fair take place in Stakladen, Studenterhus Aarhus, Nordre Ringgade 3, 8000 Aarhus C.

13 September: Annual celebration at Aarhus University

Each year the university holds a big celebration to commemorate its founding on 11 September 1928. There are speeches in the afternoon, a celebration address, the awarding of scholarships and prizes, the conferral of honorary doctorates and music in the Main Hall. In the evening the anniversary is celebrated with a concert in the Concert Hall Aarhus. Lots are drawn for tickets to the annual celebration among the employees who enter the ticket lottery. The students celebrate the day with Denmark's Biggest Friday Bar (see below).

Each year, the students hold a one-day party around the university's outdoor areas to celebrate the founding of the university. During the day, students can take part in various sports competitions (or just watch), visit specially themed bars in the park, and then listen to live music in the University Park in the evening. See more

15 September: Deadline for applying for exchange and for a Master's degree programme

Deadline for applying for exchange from AU to one of the university's partner universities for spring 2020.

October

1 October: Deadline for applying to visit Aarhus University on exchange during the Spring of 2020

The application system opens on 15. September (for external students).

1 and 3 October: Study Abroad Fair

Are you dreaming of studying abroad? At the Study Abroad Fair you can meet the international coordinators and find inspiration and help in getting started. The Study Abroad Fair visits Campus Aarhus and Herning on 3 October and Campus Emdrup on 1 October.

15 October: Deadline for applying for a Master’s degree programme commencing in the winter 2019/2020

Put the clock back at 03:00 during the night between Saturday 26 and Sunday 27

31 October: Halloween

An American tradition that has been slowly adopted by Danes. Many children dress-up in scary costumes and go trick and treating in their neighbourhood. Many people also cut scary faces out of pumpkins and place them on the doorstep with a candle inside.

November

1 November: Apply for exchange from AU to a partner university and for a Masters degree programme

The application system for applying for exchange from AU to one of the university’s partner institutions for the fall semester of 2020 or spring semester 2021 opens. Deadline 1 December.

The application system to apply for a Master’s degree programme at Aarhus University commencing in September 2020 opens.

1 November: Aarhus Symposium

Aarhus Symposium 2019. Photo: Melissa Bach Yildirim

Aarhus Symposium was founded by students at AU in 2011 and has since been held every year on the first Friday in November. The objective is to create contact and debate between students and key decision-makers. Prominent speakers from politics, economics – and sometimes royalty – usually guest the event and get into a dialogue with the students. This year's theme is “Mastering Creativity". Read more about Aarhus Symposium.

10 November: Martinmas Eve

On this evening, Danes celebrate Saint Martin of Tours. According to legend, he was appointed bishop in 371. However, he did not want the position and instead tried to hide among a gaggle of geese. The geese revealed him, and as a punishment it was therefore decided that goose should be eaten on this day. Today many people eat duck instead of goose.

November: AU elections

Each year, students elect representatives to sit on the university's boards of studies, academic councils and the university board. The final date for the election has not been decided, but expect to see election campaigns at the campus with election posters, pamphlets being handed out and a panel debate between the lead candidates. In Danish, the four political student organisations at AU are called: Studenterrådet på Aarhus Universitet, Frit Forum Århus, Konservative Studenter and Borgerlige Studerende Aarhus. Closer to the election you will be able to read more here.

December

1 December: Deadline for applying for exchange

Deadline for applying for exchange from Aarhus University to one of its partner institutions in the autumn semester 2020 and the spring semester 2021.

1 December: First Sunday of Advent

The day is often marked by lighting a candle in an Advent wreath. The wreath has four candles, with one being lit every Sunday until Christmas. Many children also get Advent presents.

8 December: Second Sunday of Advent

13 December: St. Lucy's Day (Luciadag)

A sight for sore eyes: St. Lucy's Day procession arranged by TAAGEKAMMERET. Photo: Anders Trærup

To mark the death of the Italian saint St. Lucy, the majority of schools and upper secondary schools have a St. Lucy's Day procession. The participants in the procession are dressed in white and all carry candles. At the front is the St. Lucy’s Day bride with a wreath of candles on her head. There is also a St. Lucy's Day procession at Aarhus University, but it’s more untraditional. It is organised by the TAAGEKAMMERET party committee. Both women and men take part in the procession, the wreath of candles is constructed using an old scooter helmet, and considerable quantities of alcohol are consumed along the way. You can see photos here, accompanied by Danish text.

31 December: New Year's Eve Most offices are closed and stores close early.

January

15 January: The application system to apply for AU Summer University 2020 opens.

Deadline April 1.

Translated by Lenore Messick

]]>mga@au.dkFri, 16 Aug 2019 14:13:00 +020001835What are the new government’s ambitions in relation to research and higher education? http://omnibus.au.dk/en/archive/show/artikel/hvad-vil-den-nye-regering-paa-uddannelses-og-forskningsomraadet/
After the new higher education and science minister Ane Halsboe-Jørgensen puts down her champagne glass and rolls up her sleeves, one of the first things on her to-do list is a reckoning with the reallocation contribution and the degree programme cap. The new government also intends to strengthen research and protect freedom of research.After the new higher education and science minister Ane Halsboe-Jørgensen puts down her champagne glass and rolls up her sleeves, one of the first things on her to-do list is a reckoning with the reallocation contribution and the degree programme cap. The new government also intends to strengthen research and protect freedom of research.

On Tuesday evening, the four parties behind the Social Democratic government coalition headed by Mette Frederiksen as prime minister agreed on a so-called ‘political understanding’ under the heading ‘A fair direction for Denmark’. An agreement under which the new government has pledged to launch a number of initiatives.

In relation to higher education and research, the four parties have most to say about the latter. And this is also where the ‘understanding’ is most concrete. On the very first page, the parties to the agreement make their intentions loud and clear: “We will invest in education.”

In 2015, former primer minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen’s government decided to extend the reallocation contribution to include educational institutions. This meant that educational institutions had to reduce their budgets by two percent each year, which has been putting wrinkles on the foreheads of the executive management teams of the country’s university ever since. During the election campaign, however, Løkke’s own Danish Liberal Party also promised to end the reallocation contribution cutbacks on educational institutions.

No more degree programme cap

Documentation

The parties to the agreement will also work to give post-secondary students more flexibility during their studies by taking the initiative to reform of transfer credit. However, the agreement contains no concrete details about what the reform will entail.

The government also intends to abolish the degree programme cap – despite the fact that the Social Democrats helped pass it in Parliament in 2016. The degree programme cap means that graduates are not allowed to take a new advanced degree programme at the same or a lower level than the degree they already have. The degree programme agreement was adjusted in 2017 to allow students to take a new degree at the same or a lower level after six years. But the degree programme cap still limits students’ opportunities to change course and and act on second thoughts about their choice of degree programme. And in 2018, Mette Frederiksen announced that she intended to abolish the degree programme cap.

A revolt against ’the culture of (over)achievement’

Removing the degree programme cap is one of the levers the government will pull in order to improve the well-being of children and young people and take a stand against the culture of (over)achievement. The government also intends to review the educational system to determine whether there are other levers that need pulling, for example adjusting the grading scale and forms of examination. Finally, the evaluation of the admissions system will be completed.

The new government also intends to give young people with handicaps or disabilities better opportunities for getting an education. Another priority is retention of international students who earn their degree in Denmark, as well as removing the cap on degree programmes taught in English which has forced universities to reduce the size of these programmes. A measure which Universities Denmark criticized last year.

The new government will strengthen research

The parties to the ‘political understanding’ are less specific about their intentions when it comes to research.

However, the agreement does contain this formulation: “It is through our degree programmes and research institutions that we will gain new ideas and find solutions to the problems our society faces. For this reason, we must strengthen research, protect freedom of research and aim to reach the Barcelona target for public expenditure on R&D of at least 1% of GDP.”

The Barcelona target referred to here requires EU member countries to spend a total of 3% of GDP on research and development, a third of which is to be performed in the public sector.

The new government also intends to adopt a climate action plan, and will increase funding for green research in that connection.

Documentation

]]>mga@au.dkTue, 02 Jul 2019 11:12:00 +020001834Ane Halsboe-Jørgensen is the new higher education and science minister http://omnibus.au.dk/en/archive/show/artikel/ane-halsboe-joergensen-er-ny-minister-for-uddannelse-og-forskning/
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen (Social Democrats) is presenting her new government today, including the new higher education and science minister – Ane Halsboe-Jørgensen (Social Democrats). Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen (Social Democrats) is presenting her new government today, including the new higher education and science minister – Ane Halsboe-Jørgensen (Social Democrats).

Ane Halsboe-Jørgensen is Denmark’s new higher education and science minister. The 36-year-old social democrat was elected to the Danish Parliament for the first time in 2011, is one of the leaders of Social Democrats’ parliamentary group and serves as the party’s spokesperson for child affairs.

Denmark’s new higher education and science minister is originally from the town of Fjerritslev in northern Jutland. She earned a Master’s degree in political science from the University of Copenhagen in 2009, and worked as a consultant at the Danish Confederation of Trade Unions until 2011, when she was elected to Parliament.